Oil-well reamer



June 17, 1924.

J. P. MCCLOSKEY EIT AL OIL WLL BEAMER Filed Oct. 26. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheetl mlm/Ton wmvfssfs t C] I. James PMC s7ie NM): mgfyR-Sw 'y June 17 1924.1,498,463

J. P. MCCLOSKEY ET AL OILy WELL BEAMER Filed Oct. 26. 1922 3AS'k'xeets-'Sheet 2 l/VVE/VTR oskey 00/ @o ATTORNEYS Lmn'es pMccz Harry@y gSw lili June 17, 1924. 1,498,463

J. P. MCCLOSKEY ET AL OI L WELL REAMER Filed oct. 2e. 1922 3sheets-sheet :5

C f; A 7

, Arron/ms Patented .lune 17,1924..

narran verratas JAMES r. MocLosKEY AND Atranny n. SWAN, on NEW Yonx, N.Y., AssreNoas 'ro AMEmcAN-ITALIAN rETnbnEUM oo., or

DELAWARE.

, aaaaa aaraar namens..

NEW Yoax, N. Y., A CORPORATION or in-WELL BEAMER.

Application med'october 2s, 1922. serial N0.- scf/i040.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, JAMEs P. MoCLos- KEY and HARRY R. SWAN, bothcitizens of the United States, and residents of the city of New York,borough of Manhattan, in the county and State` of New York, haveinvented a new and 'Improved Oil-Well Reamer, of which the-following isa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to reamers for oil wells and has for an object toprovide an improved construction which may be easily' inserted into awell or removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reamer with reamingmembers and a driving mechanism so co-ordinated as to permit theoperator to apply the driving force according to the resistanceencountered by the -reammg members.

Another object of the invention is to p`r0 vide a reamer formed in" sucha manner that the reaming' arms will be locked in a folded position 'asthey are lowered into a well or raised therefrom. i

A further object of the. invention is to provide a reamer for oil wellsin which fthe reamin members are resiliently held against the sur acebeing reamed.

In the accompanying drawings,-

tional view through a well casing and associated parts disclosing anembodiment of the invention in operativeposition.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section i through the upper part ofthe reaming head.

i, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the lower part of thereaming head. Fi re 4 `is a detail sectional view similar to Flgure 3but showin-g theparts in operative reaming position. i Figure 5 is asectional view'through Figure 2 approximately on line 5 5.

Figure 6 is a sectionalview through Figure 2 approximately von line-6 6.

Figure y7 is a sectional view through Fig-` l ure 3 approximately "online 7-7.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevationof a short section `of the reamingarms and associated parts shown in Fi re 2.

Figure 9 is an edge vlew of one of the reaming teeth or blocks shown inFigure 2.

Figure 10 is a bottom view ofthe structure shown in Figure 9.

`Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinalvertical sec#l by numeral, 11 indicates an ordinary well casing whichextends downwardly into the' oil bearing sand 12,y said sand beingl'provided with a cavity 13 into which the oil flows. Operating againstthe side walls of the cavity 13-are a' number of arms 14 connectedashereinafter fully described to the top head block 15 and the bottom headblock 16, which blocks are rotated by the arm -adjustin and lockingshaft 17. The shaft 17 exten s upwardly through4 the tube 18 and is suported by a. cap 19. The capi 19 is sup` porte by suitable bearings 20restin on an annular plate 21 rigidly secured to t e auxiliary tube 18',plate 21 being supported 'by any suitable' means 22 which may'raise andlower the shaft 17 as desired. A bevel gear wheel 23 is rigidly securedto the'tube 18, said gear wheel `meshin with the pinion 24 and saidpinion in turn'eing rigidly secured to the clutch member 25 co-operatingwith the clutch member 26. The clutch member 26 is splined on the powershaft 27 .and is moved back and forth by the lever`28, which llever isnormally held in such a position as to oause the two clutch members toenga e. A suitable spring 29 aotsto maintain rtis normal engagement sothat when power is being applied to'the shaft 27, tube 18 will berotating and will rotate the top block 15 and as this .top block isprovided with a square passage-way 30, said block will rotate the squareshaft v17. The shaft 17 is square from near the nut 31- to the bottomend thereof while it is preferably round from "said nut upwardly. Asuitable lock .nut 32 acts to lock the nut 31 against accidentalmovement. The tube 18 is connected to the head block 15 by a suitablesleeve 33.

l'lhe'se various connections andl the various members for supporting androtatin the head block 15 and parts associated 't erewith mayf'bechanged if desired, provided a proper support-is provided and the rod orshaft 17 allowed to reciprocate within certain limits as hereinafterfully described.

Preferably, -the block 15 is made from a solid piece of metal andmachined out at the lower part to produce four journal members 34, saidjournal members being preferably yinte al with the remaining art of theblocras shown 4in Figure 5. For each of these journal members there isprovided an arm 14 which has an eye 35 to receive the journal. lnlpractice the upper end of the armlis formed with an open eye whichafter having ybeen engaged around the journal is closed and `welded toform the closed eye 35 as shown in Figure 2. This methodof forming thearm 14 and the block 15 is to positively. prevent anyl disconnection ofthese members by reason of any loose connection of any part. Tn thedrawing, four arms 14 have been shown but as they are all identical, thedescri tion of one will apply to all.

As indicated in Figure 6, each of the arms 14 is arc-shaped'in. crosssection and when the arms are grouped together forma substantiallytubular structure which is of less diameter than the block 15. Fach offthe arms 14 carries a large numben of cutting teeth 36 which teeth areconstructed as shown in Figures 2, 9 and 10 though some other form ofcutting teeth might be provided if they could be secured properly to thearm 14.

As indicated in Figure 9, the teeth 36 are provided with a shoulder 37and a shank 38 having a threaded end, said shank extending through asuitable bore in the arm 14 for receiving a nut 39 whereby the shoulder37 may be drawn tightly against the arm.

' These cutters are arranged preferably in an odset structure asparticularly shown in Figure 8 but at a pointnear the center a specialconstruction is provided in order to provide means for pivotallyconnecting the respective links 40 to the arms "14. Tn the accompanyingdrawings, four links have been provided, there being one link for eacharm kthough if a greater or less number of arms were used aicorresponding diderence in links would be provided.

As indicated in Figures 2 and 6, opposite the upper ends of the links 40there is provided an outside plate 41 and an insidelplate 42 which iscountersunk or set into the arms 14. These plates are secured to thearms intermediate of their ends and preferably welded in place thoughthey might be held in by rivets or other means without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. `ll'sually each of the outside plates 41carry two of the teeth 36 to which they are preferably welded or pinned.The threaded portions of the Shanks of these teeth are cut od so thatthey may readily extend into the arm but not interfere with plate 42.This structure lis provided so that it will not be necessary to providenuts adjacent the upper ends of the links 40.y Fach of the inner plates42 is provided with an inwardly extending lug 43lhaving an aperturetherein for accommodating the turned over end or journal 44 eX- tendingfrom each of the links 40, each of said journals being provided with asuitable nut 45. By attaching the links 40 to the arms 14, intermediateof their ends, the teeth can be extended to the extreme lower endraeenee of's'aid arms, so that the lower end will cut clearance'when inoperation, and this connection does notinterfere with the position ofthecutting teeth. When the links 40 are raised vertically when moveddownwardly, they will swing the arms 14- inwardly or outwardly as thecase may be. The lower ends ofthe respective links 40 are shown inFigure 3 from whichit will be noted that each of the links is providedwith a projecting flat section 46 adapted to co-act with the flatsurface 47 of the respective lugs 48 projecting from the shaft 17. Thelinks 40 are journaled on suitable pins '49 mounted in the lower througha square passage-way 50 in said lower block whereby the lower block willpositively rotate simultaneously with the upper block 15. A tubularcasing 51 closed at the lower end, is threaded into the projectingannular flange 52 of block 16. This casing is to protect against sandand other objectionable matterthe sprin 53 surrounding.` the lower endof shaft 1 This spring is supported at the lower end by a suitable nut54 secured to the shaft 17 and at the upper endy carries a washer 55arranged as shown in Figure l3 when the arms 14 are collapsed. Aftervvthe reamer has been lowered into the well, the shaft`17 will be movedupwardly independently of the tube 1S and, consequently, the lugs 48will move away from the projecting -flat surfaces 46 and at the sametime the spring 53 will move upwardly and press the washer 55 againstthe lower block 16. The parts are so proportioned that the washer 55will engage the block 16 immediately after the lugs 48 have moved awayfrom the projecting fiat surfaces 46 whereby vany further movement ofthe shaft 17 with the tube 18 standing still will result in forcing thelinks 40 upwardly and. consequently, swinging outwardly the various arms14 as indicated in Figures 1 and 4. lt will, therefore, be seen that thearms 14 are resiliently supported when moved to an operative position.As soon as the arms 14 strike the' upper'walls of the cavity 13. aresistance will be produced which will be caused by the liftingstructure 22 and, consequently. the upward pull will be stopped. Thiswill result in the spring 53 holding the arms14'in firm contact with theupper walls of the cavity 13. The clutch members 25 and 26 are thenbrought into engagement after the power shaft 27 has been started. f f

Tfry desired, an operator could hold the lever 28 and by theresistanceoered as the reamer rotates, determine whether orl not thereamer was properly functioning and also determine whether or not thereare eX- tra lhard projections encountered by the reamer. Tf the actionis comparatively smooth, the operator usually allows the block 16 whilethe shaft 17 extends l ice spring 29 to take care. of the clutch action,which spring would permit any desired slipping in case an extra hardobstacle is en.

countered by the arms 14. In fact, if the arms 14 encountered anunyielding substance and was completely stopped, the clutch member 25would stop and the clutch member 26 would merely slip. In this way thereamers are caused to perform their proper function without. anyappreciable liability of breaking. After the desired reaming has takenplace and the operator wishes to remove the device from the well, thepower is turned o and the rod 17 lowered independently of the tube 18until the arms 14 have been completely folded and the lugs 48 moved backto the position shown in Figure 3. `This takes place when the nut 31rests against the upper endof the block 15. After the parts have beenfolded in this manner, the tube 18 is pulled upwardly and the straintherefrom will be transmitted to the top block 15, the lower part ofshaft 17 and arms 14 and associated parts. In order to cause anindependent vertical movement of the shaft 17 ,l any suitable means maybe connected to the upper end thereof to raise and lower the same independently of the "tube 18.

What we claim is 1. In a reamer of the character described, a reaminghead provided with a plurality of swinging arms, a link for each. ofsaid arms for swinging the arms, a shaft for operatin said links, and aplurality of lugs on said shaft coacting with the lower ends of saidlinks for locking the links and said arms in a folded position whenmoving the reamer into and out of a well.

2. In a reamer for oil wells, a reamer head, reaming members pivotallymounted on said head, a pivotally mounted link for each of said reamingmembers for moving the same to an operative position, each of said linkshaving on its lower end a projecting portion formed with a flat face, ano erating shaft provided with projecting ugs tubular member andsupported thereby, said reamer being formed with top and bottom blockshaving passage-ways of the same shape in crossv section as said sectionfor permitting said section of said rod to extend therethrough,-a stopmounted on said rod adapted to rest on the top block when the reamer isin a folded and inoperative position, a plurality of swinging reamingarms pivotally mounted on the top block, a plurality of links pivotallymounted on the lower block and pivotally connected with said armsintermediatetheir length, anda spring surrounding the lower. part ofsaid shaft and supported thereby, said s ring being adapted to engagesaid lower lock and raise the same as the shaft is raised for `operatingsaid links and thereby swinging said reaming arms outwardly to anoperative positio 4. In a reamer for oil wells, a reamer head formedfrom a single piece of material having a central passage-waytherethrough, and formed with a plurality of recesses forming integraljournal lpins in a plane transverse to the central passage.

5. In a reamer, a reamlng head, and a plurality of reaming arms ivotallyconnected to said head, each of sald arms being arcshaped in crosssection whereby` when they are swun to a closed position they willpresent a su stantially tubular structure.

JAMES P.. MCCLOSKEY. HARRY R. SWAN.

